Northville resident comes full circle in ‘Annie Jr.’

Northville resident Laurie Kondek’s theater fire was lit years ago, when she attended Northville High School and got a part in a production of Annie. Years later, she has come full circle back to Annie Jr.

“I came to love the camaraderie, the team effort and the feeling of putting it all out there on the stage,” Kondek said. “My high school experience and the inspiration I got from Mr. Kinde at NHS gave me a lifelong interest and passion. After receiving a master’s in arts administration, I went on to an incredibly satisfying career in the local arts scene. Now here I am, I have come full-circle, back to working on Annie.... it’s pretty great!”

A whopping 67 local kids are rehearsing lines, songs and dance steps to get ready for the musical Annie Jr. at Village Theater at Cherry Hill in Canton. Youth actors, ages 5 and up, hail from Plymouth, Livonia, Canton, South Lyon, Westland, Ann Arbor, Manchester and Ypsilanti.

“This is a great family show,” said director Barbara Bloom of Novi. “Annie Jr., based on the comic strip, tells the story of a feisty orphan that gets adopted by the richest man in town, with many memorable characters and wonderful songs that leaves you with a smile on your face and a song in your heart. You’ll recognize such songs as It’s the Hard Knock Life, Tomorrow, Maybe and You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.”

Annie Jr. is a 70-minute version of the popular Broadway musical Annie geared specifically for a youth cast. Based on the 1930s comic strip “Little Orphan Annie,” the show tells the story of America’s favorite orphan girl, whose spunky antics in a Depression-era orphanage put her at odds with the institute’s cruel facilitator, Miss Hannigan. When Annie is chosen to spend Christmas with millionaire Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks, they both find hope, love – and a lot of thrills, especially when Miss Hannigan’s crooked brother Rooster gets into the act. And don’t forget Annie’s furry companion, Sandy the dog.

Spotlight on Youth exists to create an extraordinary youth centered theater experience and to advance theater as a means of educating, challenging and inspiring young people. Spotlight on Youth at the Village Theater at Cherry Hill seeks to create a cultural center for youth and families, where programs and activities will celebrate diverse art forms, ideas and cultures.

Details

Bring the entire family to the all-youth production presented by Spotlight on Youth Theater at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15-17, and a matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday. Buy tickets now at 734-394-5300 or 734-394-5460; online at www.canton-mi.org/villagetheater; in person at The Summit on the Park; or at the door. Box office opens one hour prior to show time. Tickets are $15; group sales are available $13 per 15 people per group.